The sudden loss of Dr. Rev. Swensson stands out to be the saddest event ever in Swedish Lindsborg's history!

In Memorium**Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson,1904

Dr. Rev. Carl Aaron Swensson, (1857-1904): a Swedish American, a resident of Lindsborg, Kansas, second pastor of Swedish Bethany Lutheran Church, founder of Swedish Bethany College 1881, second Bethany College president 1889-1904, died in Los Angles on February 16, 1904

All images are from Emil O. Deere's book of the funeral proceeding of his friend and colleague titled: In Memoriam ** Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson

In the following excerpts fromfourth Swedish American Bethany College president Emory Lindquist's 1975 book,Bethany in Kansas the history of a college with notated pages, he brings us to the very time of the way it was for the Swedes of Lindsborg and beyond, including the Illinois Swedes of Augustana Lutheran Church and College mourning their fallen friend and leader at Ling Auditorium also known as the Messiah Auditorium.

From page 39 Lindquist writes:

"When the last page of the final chapter of Dr. Carl Swensson’s earthly life had been written, the editor of the Lindsborg Record penned lines of appreciation in behalf of the people of Lindsborg and elsewhere: “The grief which spread from home to home in our little town is indescribable. The Doctor was the friend of everybody and everybody was his friend . . . . His life has been a constant endeavor for good towards all. He was unselfish, his whole ambition was for Bethany, for the Swedish people and for his country . . . . Money, distinction, personal favor, and high station in life were nothing to him unless it tended toward the elevation and betterment of Bethany College, the child of his ambitions. His very life teemed with enthusiasm for Bethany, for Lindsborg, and for the Smoky Valley.”38

From pages 34 & 35 Lindquist writes:

"The progress of Bethany College at this time reflected the dreams and aspirations of Carl Swensson, Founder, and president since 1889. His loyalty to Bethany caused him to decline the call to become president of Augustana College and Theological Seminary which had been extended to him at the Burlington, Iowa, meeting of the Augustana Synod in June, 1900. Swensson's great faith and hard work and that of his capable associates were being rewarded. The future was bright with the promise of greater gains. Even the indebtedness of the College, which had been far greater on serveral occasions, was only $32,000.00 in 1903. But suddenly Carl Swensson's great career came to an abrupt end. On February 16, 1904, the sad message came from California Lutheran Hospital, Los Angeles, that he had died from pheumonia after a brief illness.

"The reponse of students to the death of Bethany's beloved founder and president was recorded in the Messenger: 'At chapel services were first heard the indefinite rumor. A telegram had been received saying that our president was quite ill in Los Angelse. Our class had French in Room 73 the First Period. We assembled in our carefree manner, but there was a delay in the appearance of Professor Sandzén. At length he came, but his face was drawn and pale with grief. 'We have received sad news' was all he could say, and he turned to go again. We walked aimlessly up and down the halls with parched lips, sometimes whispering in subdued groups.'

"On a farm near Lindsborg Mrs. John Holmquist wrote in her diary enclosed in wide black lines, expressing the sentiments of the people of the Smoky Valley: 'I can scarcely see to write tonight on account of the tears since we have received the sad announcement that our dear pastor is dead. He died this morning in California. We are all enveloped in deep sorrow. May God strengthen the wife and children. It seems so strange the one who was so needed should have been taken away from his place of service.'33

"February 23, 1904, the day of the funeral, was bright and clear. People called it 'a Carl Swensson day.' Although nature was kindly disposed, there was deep sorrow in the hearts of the people of Lindsborg and elswwhere. Estimates indicate that 3,000 people were in Lindsborg that day to pay their respects to Carl Swensson. A student guard of honor stood by the casket of Bethany's president in the "Messiah" auditorium while people filed by in a continuous line for several hours. Beautiful floral tributes filled the front of the large auditorium. At the memorial service, sermons and eulogies were presented by Dr. L.G. Abrahamson, Dr. G. A. Brandelle, Dr. M. Wahlstrom, President Gustav Andreen of Augustant College, and others. Messages of sympathy addressed to Mrs. Swensson and daughtres, Bertha and Annie Theo., were read. The "Messiah" chorus sang Dr. Swensson's favorite, Worthy is the Lamb. A sad people followed the funeral cortege to the last resting place, Elmwood Cemetery, east of Lindsborg. At the conclusion of the committal service the group sang the traditional Bethany hymn, Near My God to There."34.

This book was given to Deere after Swensson's funeral, several weeks later, now it takes us to his day:

"A Carl Swensson Day"

and to"the other Swedes" the way they were

Source: The Deere Papers

THE PROGRAM

The funeral was conducted in Swedish and English as was the book 60% in Swedish and 40% in English

Dr. Rev. Carl Arron Swensson was laid to rest in great honor and grief by the citizens of Lindsborg and the Bethany Family. This Egyptian-designed obelisk marks the site of his grave at Elmwood Cemetery.

For a brief summary of the beginnings of Swensson's Swedish Augustana Lutheran Synod, his Swedish school, his musicians and singers, his artists, and his museum and Swedish curators, go to the individual pages which appear under this page:

Swensson's Bethany Lutheran Church and the Augustana Lutheran Synod

Swensson's Bethany's Beginnings, 1882

Swenssons' Muscians' and Singers' "Messiah" 1882 on ...

Swensson's Swedish Artists, 1890

Swensson's Museum, 1882-1968, and the Swedish Curators

--Bethany College Museum Collections' New Location,1967 --Articles on the College Collections, 1966 & 1976

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.